A New 'Do' and I Can't Feel My Legs

Thatcher got his first official hair cut this week (the home cuts I've "experimented" with certainly don't count considering he was all hacked up as an end result). He did pretty well sitting up there in his car chair watching Elmo on the little tv. What a deal! When I was little, I got my hair cut by my mom's friend in her basement sitting on a stool. I mean really.

They styled him up with some product and he was looking pretty suave I must say.

And now to the next topic...I cannot feel my legs or arms. And I am not joking. Since Thatcher is now an expert at the gym daycare, I started back with the punisher yesterday (aka Spinning class). The workout was great and didn't kill me, although judging by the red face and sweat drenching it may have appeared otherwise. Skip forward 24 hours to this morning. I got all hot-shot and decided to hit up "body works" lifting class. Folks, I've officially met the REAL punisher. I walk in looking for a bubbly little instructor. Bubbles was nowhere to be found. In her place was my cycling instructor from yesterday morning. I should have known I was in for it when I scoped his outfit. Spandex on spandex. TUCKED IN. He led us though over an hour of excruciating exercises in sync with the music styling of Enya and whatever else chanting crap he had playing. NOT motivating-rather anger inducing considering the slow and steady pain being inflicted. I want bubbles! I need bubbles!

I'm sure my pain will subside and my body will thank me. Thatcher might not however, as I can barely lift his 28 lbs off the ground and in and out of the car seat!

Enough of that. Tomorrow night (Friday) my brother is going to babysit while Brandon and I have a proper date. Dress up, drink wine, out to dinner the whole shebang. I can't wait!!! Hopefully I can walk by then or I might have to opt for slippers versus stilettos.

Dilly Dally

Our little dancing machine

Note to self (and/or note to husband...achem):

It is never a good idea to give your toddler a Dilly Bar. Do not attempt this unless the desired reaction upon then taking it away from THE BABY is a full-blown epic melt down.

I do not wish to embelish on this topic as it has scarred me permanantly I'm certain. This might be due to the fact that I was not the parent who gave him the best tasting thing he's eaten in his life, yet had to be the crulest mom of the century and take the chocolate mass away from the little one-and yes, it was nearly as big as his head and a ridiculous thought to even have him taste it LET ALONE HOLD IT AND EAT NEARLY THE ENTIRE THING.

I really do wish I would have had tape rolling. It was a pretty strong performance from a boy of such a young age. He looked possessed with all that icecream and chocolate melted down his face and body and had such a strong hold I had to PRY BOTH of his grimy little digits off the darn thing. Skip forward about two seconds and I had no other choice but to break the law and chuck the damn thing straight out the window. Terrible but true story.

On a positive note, the Deschutes was great. We read, drank wine, played backgammon and relaxed. It snowed down there so that wasn't choice, but we got outside to play catch and hang at the firepit anyway.

It's Friday! Yahoo!

Happy Friday Y'All. Congrats on getting through another week.

Brandon and I are gearing up to leave town for the weekend and I'm quite happy about it. Since quiting my job to stay at home with Thatcher, every weekend feels like Spring Break to me. I get all hyped up and make a thousand plans...(then wind up doing chores and boring housework mostly. sigh.). We are going to his family's river place and it's secluded and quiet and plain old wonderful. I usually read books, hike, watch movies, watch Brandon fish and sometimes get a wild hair to cook. sometimes.

This morning Thatcher stayed at the childcare for an hour. I think we're finally over the drama phase? Maybe. I won't hold him to it. I think he's turning into a real man baby because he didn't even cry at the doctor yesterday when he got his shot. I promised him "num nums" (translation: m&ms) and he just wore a big old shot in the arm without a peep. That's my guy!

I'll post Sunday with lots of fun pictures and video from our weekend. Yahoo!

Making Progress

This may seem somewhat silly and embarrassing to be excited over, but nevertheless, I AM!!!!!! We just got home from the gym and two things happened that make me very happy:

1. The front desk did not tap into the loud speaker to announce my mispronounced name for the entire population of guests to hear and look around for the person called frantically to report to childcare "Staceyia Olearn to the kids club please. Staceyia Olearn please report to the kids club.". Hide under a rock and no, that's not my name.
2. Thatcher (for the first time ever) didn't burst into tears upon seeing me walk back into the room to pick him up, meanwhile running full pace into my arms as if he were leaving a concentration camp. He actually stayed inside the gate trying his damnedest to jump and continue to showoff for the cute childcare employee.

This is excellent progress and I'm oh so proud of my little guy. One of these days I might actually be able to stay for an entire (gasp) hour.

He's napping now (read babbling in his crib, opening and closing the shutters and playing with elmo and his cabbage patch vernon). Off to shower as it's nearly 12 and I have yet to do so. Good greif how did that become so normal????

Happy Inauguration Day (Belated)

Thatcher watching the inauguration from our room...

It was so cool to turn on the TV yesterday morning and witness the sea of people gathered for the inauguration of our new President. Thatcher and I watched and of course he didn't know what was happening, but I couldn't resist taking his picture for the baby book. What a day in the history of our country!!!!

It was nice enough outside to take him to the park. He absolutely laughs his face off when going down the slide and especially on the swings. I seriously need to video him swinging. He laughs so heartily, you'd think he was delirious!

We've been working on getting him use to the daycare at the gym. I started to take him to the LA Fitness down in the Pearl (it's brand new and oh so nice). I only go for 1/2 hour right now since he pretty much melts down the minute he steps foot into the play room. The girls are so nice and patient with him and apparently last night he only cried for a few minutes-that is BIG progress!

Today is Thatcher's first Baby Monet art class at Garden Home Rec. Center. I think he's going to love it. He's really into coloring and painting so it should be fun for him.

Day One...Messy Marv

Here is my attempt at giving you a daily chuckle at my expense. Those of you who have a toddler (or just some good common sense) would probably know better than to leave the child alone with a bowl of spagetti o's when he can barely operate a spoon.

What a mess.

I park it to write post numero uno with said "toddler" (read: Thatcher J) clinging to my back while standing on the seat bouncing, swirling my hair and scooting me further and further off my chair. Thatcher just turned 1 1/2, which apparently means he can frequently scrunch his nose and give me an emphatic "NO". Wow. Really?

I'm starting this blog in the hopes that it will get me to:

1. Quit being a complete nerd and surfing the web for random celebrity information

2. Quit surfing the web for "bargains" and "sales" which I neither need, nor can afford considering I make $0.00 per year as a stay at home MOM.

3. To keep my friends and family who live near and far more connected in daily life.

It really seems like a much better option than to call each person individually and rattle on and on about Thatcher doing this and that and other mundane details of my life!

Love to you all!!!

Stacia